Looking Ahead: John Adams's 70th birthday year is feted around the world during the 16–17 season. His homestate of California hosts a string of celebrations surrounding his birthdate in February, beginning with San Francisco Symphony's weeklong focus and followed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic' presentation of Nixon in China, conducted by the composer in early March. Additional anniversary highlights include a residency with the Berliner Philharmoniker; performances as conductor in London and France of Scheherazade.2 with the London Symphony Orchestra and violinist Leila Josefowicz; the BBC Symphony Orchestra performing Dr. Atomic in concert; and the St. Louis Symphony bringing The Gospel According to the Other Mary to Carnegie Hall. His new opera with librettist Peter Sellars, Girls of the Golden West, which is set during the 1850s California Gold Rush, will receive its world premiere at San Francisco Opera in fall 2017.

"Whenever serious art loses track of its roots in the vernacular, then it begins to atrophy." — John Adams